Amol handmade paper - a review
Amol papers also known as carlton paper markets a sketch pad
of 180 gsm. This paper is made from cotton and has a rough finish and very
economical. I found the paper of exceptional quality and pursued to check if
they have of heavier quality. They provided me with a A4 size of 400 gsm cut
form a sheet. The 400 gsm too had the same texture and quality. Both take loads
of water without buckling and is smooth to the brush. However it comes in a
milky color and so the colors get heavily subdued. See sample below of Winsor
and Newton.
In the above chart WN = Winsor and Netwon colors from black box, Aq= Aquarelle and CK = Camelin Kokuyo.
The surface resists the pigments and allows mixing on the
paper till it is kept wet. It dries bit duller. I am not sure if it is due to
its acidic nature, will explore it subsequently. It can be used excellently for
landscape and portraits. However, for botanical it has limitations as the blues
and yellows lose their original color as the creaminess of the paper shines
through. But the greens look and mix excellent, even if subdued, making it look
like an English landscape!
Lifting is possible while the pigment is wet. Applying layers and glazes makes the colors vibrant.
Lifting is possible while the pigment is wet. Applying layers and glazes makes the colors vibrant.
Here is a nature painting done on a sample, using safe
colors like yellow, green and burnt sienna!
I like this paper as it allows me to make sketches and play around with color economically. The 400 gsm can be used for commercial saleable paintings, with clever planning of pigments! :). Surely I will give it a try with landscape, when I can
source another sheet of Carlton!
